$83.9 million grants for healthcare

Grants of $83.9 million will be offered to 45 organizations to help networks of health centers adopt electronic health records and other health information technology systems.

These significant funds are part of the $2 billion allotted to HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to expand health care services to low-income and uninsured individuals through its health center program.

Forty-five grants will support EHR implementation projects as well as HIT innovation projects and allow grantees to use EHR technology to improve health care quality, efficiency, and patient safety. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said “We need health information technology to bring our health care system into the 21st century. This essential technology improves the quality of care we all receive and helps make care more efficient.”

Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCNs) are designed to improve the operational effectiveness and clinical quality in health centers. The networks are community-based groups that support HRSA-funded health centers that provide primary health care to nearly 19 million patients – a number expected to double over the next five years as health reform is implemented.